Union Ministry of Education released the results of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, a nationwide competency-based assessment conducted by NCERT. Punjab emerged as the top-performing state across all evaluated classes—III, VI, and IX, surpassing even Kerala, India’s most literate state.
Punjab’s leading performance in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 not only reflects its educational strength but also demonstrates the potential of evidence-based policymaking and systemic reforms. The PARAKH initiative is a significant step toward ensuring quality, equity, and inclusivity in India’s school education system, in line with NEP 2020.
Key Highlights of State Rankings
- Class III Rankings:
- Punjab: 80 (Top Rank)
- Himachal Pradesh: 74
- Kerala: 73 (National Average: 61)
- Class VI Rankings:
- Punjab and Kerala: Joint top rank with 67
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu: 60
- Chandigarh: 60
- Class IX Rankings:
- Punjab: 57 (Top Rank)
- Kerala: 56
- Chandigarh: 53
Performance Highlights
- Punjab students showed significant academic proficiency:
- Class III: Strong reading comprehension, story interpretation, and two-digit math problem-solving.
- Class VI: Scored between 50% and 75%, above national averages across subjects.
- Class IX: Scored between 42% and 69%, displaying strong command over language, maths, science, and social science.
- Girls outperformed boys across most categories.
- Government schools outshone private schools in learning outcomes.
- Punjab’s consistent investment in education has yielded significant results, including:
- 845 government school students clearing NEET 2024
- 265 clearing JEE-Mains 2024
About PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
- Full Form: Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development
- Conducted by: NCERT (Unit established in 2023)
- Date: 4th December 2024
- Scale:
- 75,565 schools
- 22,94,377 students
- Classes assessed: III, VI, and IX
- Subjects assessed: Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, The World Around Us
- Coverage:
- Government, Government-aided, Central Government and Recognised Private Schools
- Uses a paper-based model with OMR technology
- Objective: To evaluate stage-specific learning outcomes aligned with NEP 2020 and identify systemic gaps.
About PARAKH (NCERT Initiative)
- Launched: 2023 as a dedicated unit under NCERT.
- Mandate:
- Standardize school board assessments across India.
- Support competency-based assessments.
- Provide equivalence of school boards.
- Develop Holistic Progress Cards for all education stages.
- Major Areas of Work:
- Large-scale surveys like NAS & Rashtriya Sarvekshan
- Capacity building for competency-based education
- Setting guidelines and norms for assessments
- Supporting implementation of NEP 2020 goals
Significance of PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
- Promotes Competency-Based Education: Evaluates how well schools help students achieve desired learning outcomes for their grade level.
- Guides Policy Reforms: Provides real-time, region-specific educational data to policymakers.
- Enables Equity: Assesses education quality across rural, urban, tribal, and underserved regions.
- Empowers Educators: Offers actionable data to teachers and school leaders for targeted improvements.